Apparatus for handling and dumping stacked articles



June 3, 1952 'R. B. NAWMAN v APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND DUMPING STACKEDARTICLES Filed Jan. 20, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l EIE-1A /N VE N TOR POLL /E5. N4 WMA/V June 3, 1952 NAwMAN 2,598,713

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND DUMPING STACKED ARTICLES Filed Jan. 20, 194'?A 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 :EIE.1E.

R. B. NAWMAN June 3, 1952 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND DUMPING STACKEDARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 20. 194'? 2041/5 a. NAM/MAN R.,-B.NAWMAN June 3, 1952 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND DUMPING STACKED ARTICLESFiled Jan. 20. 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mN mHmu //v VENTOE 2044/5 5. M4

MA/V

' the other operations.

It is a further object of the invention to provide,

Patented June 3, 1952 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND DUMPIN G STACKEDARTICLES Rollie B. Nawman, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Benner-Nawman,Inc., Oakland, Calif., a corporation of California Application January20, 1947, Serial No. 723,008

so as to up-end and dump the contents from the individual boxes of thestacks.

an object of the invention is to provide apparatus designed particularlyfor the handling of stacked articles of the class described arranged ona platform or portable pallet in a group comprising two or more stacksto a side.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the characterdescribed which is capable of dumping large quantities of the stackedreceptacles in a given period of time and which requires a comparativelysmall amount of trucking operations to keep it supplied with stacks tobe dumped.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the typereferred to in which all operations of dumping the receptacles andmoving the stacks thereof into position to be subsequently .dumped areunder the control of a single operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of thecharacter described in which the various receptacles from the time thatthey are deposited in the mechanism until they are dumped, are subjectedto gentle handling without shocks or other strains induced by droppageor abrupt changes of movement which might bruise or otherwise damage thecontents of the receptacles.

A still further object of the invention is to pro- I vlde mechanism forthe handling and dumping of 8 Claims. (Cl. 214-11) stacks may be moved,in a direction traversing the v interlocked so that none is capable ofoccurring in' improper sequence or timing with respect to in apparatusof the type referred to, pusher mechanism for moving grouped stacks ofboxes or the like between spaced positions, which is constituted andarranged to effect such movement without the imposition of concentratedpressure or wracking strains on the stacks which might tend to ruptureor otherwise injure the individual containers thereof and consequentlycause possible damage to their contents.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide, in apparatusof the class described, means for providing a primary controlled tilt ofa stack of boxes relative to other stacks of a group thereof so as toeffect breakage of any overlap which may exist between adjacent boxes ofadjoining stacks.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide, in apparatus ofthe type referred to, means operative with the mechanism for pushing ofboxes from a pallet for relatively separating said stacks during thepushing operation.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. Itis to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by thesaid drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

Referr to the drawings:

Figure 1A is a top plan view of the sinistral portion of the apparatusof my invention.

Figure 1B is a top plan view of the dextral portion of the apparatus ofmy invention formin a continuation of the structure of Figure 1A.

Figure 2A is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure1A.

Figure 2B is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated inFigure 1B.

Figure 3 is a portional side elevational view of the structures ofFigures 2A and 2B, showing the operating of shifting the grouped stacksto move the outermost row of stacks from the pallet onto the dumper.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus of my invention, to a.reduced scale, showing the association therewith of plural box-takeawayconveyors so as to increase the box handling capacity of the apparatus.

In the form in which I have chosen to illustrate my invention, I providea base structure preferably comprising two or more relatively spaced andparallel channel beams I joined together at spaced intervals bytransversely exposite sides of the platform Iprovide, respectively, adumper and'a pallet unloadermechanisrn,

dumper isindicated, generally, by the' nimieral I2 and. the unloader bythe numeral-I3 Y I The load-receiving platform acomprises .-a;xsuitablefiat bed preferably constructed of joined structural beams forming .side.and transverse rails 14 and I6 respectively 'connectedwith andsupported by suitable vertical leg members]?! .se- I 20 horizontalandpositioned slightly below the plane cured by bolts l8 to th'e basestructure beams 17. .Intercostal vbeams L9 extending between thetransverse mus [4, are provided for lending .rigidity to the platformandQfor supplementing theJoad-bearing area thereof. v Ihe p latiornrisadapted to receive. and support a transport pallet of the typeextensively used with 'fo'rk rliit .trac- .tor vehiole'sand.comprisingtwo .ormor'es'ill memhers .2 l secured to.andiorm'ing .aibasefor 1a lfloor 22 on which the loa'dmay .be placed. 'The openings -23below the jfioor Hand-between adjacent sins provide for insertion .ofthe efork .lift eleinen'ts under .the .floor so that both pallet andlloadinaybe'liitedandtransportedtogether. The load in the present casecomprises a group of stacks or Ting .hoxe's '24 containing .fruit ,orother such loosely concentrated substance. 'iLocating ...meansioraccuratelypostioningsuccessivepallets aridiltheir loads relative to.the .JOad LeceiVing ,iilai'tidrm .are provided in angularly'lir'itersecting :s'iide and rearecllrb ,rails ,2; vand}?! \detachablysecured to the platform structure and capable of reari-angexneii't'fth'ereo'n so as ito perxn it reception o'f pallets from opposite sidesth'ereof dependingon'ftherelation of'the apparatus to thematerialgronte' o'fthe particular. establishment in fwliichiheapparatus'may' be installed. Theouter njdxofthe' curb rail .26 isprovided witha curved spurv portion 22 against which the pallet maybrushfin the event that the latter is causedjto approachinislightimisalignment with the platform so that proper alignment of theouter ,sill *ZI with the side curb :rail will be. established whereuponthe palletfmay be moved .rearwardly over the platform'uriti'l the rearcurbrailisengaged. "This will properly align the .pallet and :sucpeeding"ones thereof, with the load-receiving 7 '31, the 'framebeingipivotallymounted at one end of a shaft 32 journaled in bearings ;33 which aresupported .on pedestal frames f3:4.'at

"'tached "to and rising from the opposite channel beams l. of the basestructure. Asimilar shaft itfis provided at the opposite end .of the:dumper, f

b 'ng journaled in' bearings Bflcarri'ed by the V 'zg and'each ofthe;sha fts 32 "and 35 are --provided with suitable sprockets 38'meshing'with continuous looped chains 39, or their equivalentinterconnecting slats H or the like forming an endless flexible draperbelt serving as a conveyor as will be explained presently. Suitablesupport rails 42 andidler rollers 43 are provided engagin the chains andbelt respec- 5 tively for preventing any sagging of the upper reach ofthe chains and for lessening the natural ---.degree ithereof tin the.flower reach of the chain flas viewedtin Ei'gure aipromfl i provided,arranged in planar normal relation to the do draper belt, secured to theopposite side walls 3| of the dumper and extending from the outergdgesgofthelatter to terminate in closely spaced relationship to theouter face of the belt. The primary -operati ve position of the dumperis .;i5;shown;:bythe dotted lines of Figure 2A wherein the ii-raperb16151, AH is'substantially vertical and i positioned in spaced relationwith the confronting -sides'of the adjacent stacks of boxes carried bythe pallet, the apron 44 being then of the upper surface ,of thepallet.IIhe dumper .-ma3f1.move frorn its -prixnary verticalposition toalseconqar position, shown by the run line'sof .E'ig'ure "2A whereinthe. distal ehdbffth Ifr-ame 25 '29 comes .'to rest against a portion of.a suppbrt structure carrying a takeawayjchain conveyor '4'! which ispositioned'below and directionally trans- V verses the upper end .of thedraper'belt. "The "it"! is carried Tbjy suitable support rails 48 .30'an'd sprockets #9, the latter "being secure'd to shafts *5!'journal'edfin bearing fl mounted on the support structure. Onefshaftbland its'as-' 'sociated sprockets/49 power drivenso as to cause thetakeaway chain conveyor 41 to move 35 at 'a'preslected. rate .ofspeedtransversely o'fthe .40 to'sh'ow as a 'washing tank 53 containing water4'i 'rf the su' i bl' uu dr su a el eans a e provided -fondriving the"drap'efbel't so that 'theupperreach thereon: reviewed in Figure 2A moveat pon'stant speed toward the takeaway 'conveyor andfits associated"apparatussuch as -th'e tank 5-3. 'T'ositioned belowth'e'pivoted end "ofthe dumper Iprov'id'e' a geared speed reducer fifipreferablydirect-connected to a motor 51 or *s-iniilar driver carried :by "asuitable basesupli ort 5,8 mountedon the beams "1. The power outputsharfflfrQ-flffthepiaed reducercarries a sprocket 6-! connected to "a"similar sprocket (i2 on'the pivot shaft 32 so that when themotorii'slgisener- 'gizedft'h'e lattershaft will be rotatedto driveth'edraperfbelt. In "ofderto reducejth'e' tensile stress inthe draperbelt gparts .during'loafd c'o'nveying "operations, '-I connect the shaft32 and 36 to *be driven synchronously by .a chain 53; shown in *F-igure1A,'and fn1eshing with suitable sprockets carried by and ro'tatablewiththere- "spectiveshaits. I also provide powered means ior' moving*th'e'dump'er about its pivotal axis, represented by the shaft 32,irom'its vertical position, sho n byfthe dotted lines of Figure "2A,, tofits redlining" position indicated by the solid ;'-lines.Thisflatter'meanscomprises a cylinder lidrpivot- 'ally mounted,atlitslower end, by a pivotpin fifi ito "clips 61 "carried by. the basestructure and having a piston rod .58 vslidablyprojecting from -theupper end thereof which .ispivotally connect y m an of a stud .89 to .aSide portion 'ofthe dumper; A piston ll carriedbytheipiston :r q sa is"adapted to .be acted upon by liquid ad "mitted to the cylinderthroughconduiis 151:2 con- 75 hected with the, espective enilstlereonanti supplied from a motor-driven pump-.lflthrough asolenoid-operated two way valve 65. It will be seen that by admittingfluid to the lower portion ofthe cylinder, the piston rod will beforcibly extended to raise the dumper to its perpendicular positionwhile the admission of fluid to the opposite end of the cylinder andsimultaneously exhausting the opposite end thereof will return thedumper. to its reclined position. It will be noted that when the dumperis in the latter position, the upper or conveying surface of the draperbelt assumes an angle, with respect to a horizontal plane, ofapproximately degrees which has been found to be the mostsuitableinclination for proper frictional engagement of the belt withthe boxes being conveyed and which is least conducive to tipping of theboxes during passage of the latter along the draper belt.

Referring now to Figure 2B, the pallet unloader comprises a pusher plateI3, positioned facing the stacked boxe opposite the open channel of thedumper, which is carried on supporting legs 14 secured to and risingfrom the base bars 16 equipped with suitably journaled wheels 11 whichas is best shown in Figure 4 are adapted to roll along tracks formed bythe upper flanges of the channel beams 1. The arrangement is such thatthe carriage will move freely along the tracks so as to cause the pusherplate to pass over the pallet and approach the dumper. Means for movingthe pusher plate and its carriage is provided comprising an axiallyhorizontal piston rod 18 operative with and movable relative to acylinder 19 carried by a supporting frame 8| risin from thebasestructure. A source of liquid under pressure is provided in a pump 82preferably direct connected, through a suitable coupling 83, to bedriven by a motor 84. The pump and motor unit may be convenientlymounted on a tank 86 in which a quantity of liquid supplying the pumpmay be stored and a suction line 81 connects the pump and tank throughwhich liquid may be withdrawn as required. A discharge or pressure line88 leading from the pump is connected to a solenoid-actuated two-wayvalve 89 having conduits 9| leading to the respective ends of thecylinder T9 and provided with a fluid return line 92 connected with andto discharge into the storage tank 86. A by-pass line 93 having a springloaded valve 94 therein is interposed between the discharge and returnlines 88 and 92 respectively and operates under certain conditions aswill be hereinafter explained. Means are provided for instituting andstopping the flow of liquid under pressure into the cylinder so that thepusher plate 13 may be made to stop at predetermined points in itsmovement across the pallet. Carried by and extending from the pusherplate, in parallel relation to the piston rod 18 thereof, is a controlrod 95 carryin axially adjustable collars 91 provided with horizontallyoffset trip lugs 98 which, in the axial movement of the control rodcorresponding to that of the piston rod, are capable of engaging therollers 99 of rocker arms lfll connected with associated trip switchesI02 mounted on a panel I93 suitably supported on the frame 8! so as toposition the rollers 99 to be engaged by the lugs 98. The trip switchesI02 function as limiting. devices to stop the motor 84 so as to governthe degree of extension of the piston rod 18 and consequently theposition of the pusher plate 13. It will be seen that the position ofthe first collar 91, as viewed in Figure 213, relative to the nearestroller 99 of a trip switch I02 is equal to the width of a stack of boxesin the direction between the sides of the boxes paralleling the face ofthe pusher plate. Upon the energization of the motor 84 by the operationof a starting switch in a manner well known to those skilled in the art,the pump 82 will start delivering liquid from the tank 86 into the rearend of the cylinder 19. This will cause the pusher plate to forciblyengage the adjacent side of the grouped stacks of boxes and cause theentire group to be shifted across and relative to the pallet toward thedumper. The movement will continue until the first lug. 98 engages thenearest roller 99 whereupon the operation of the switch I02 associatedwith the engaged roller will stop the motor and terminate the flow ofliquid into the cylinder. This will have moved the group of stacks adistance equivalent to the aforesaid width of one stack and willtherefore push the foremost row of stack off the pallet and into theupright channel defined by the draper belt and the side walls Bl of thedumper. After the removal of the foremost stacks of boxes, as willbe'presently described, the pusher plate is similarly actuated to pushthe remaining stacks, in succession, from the pallet until the latter iscompletely unloaded. When this situation obtains, the valve 89 isconditioned to effect a reversal of flow through the conduits 9| and thepusher plate is fully retracted to its starting position as shown inFigure 2B. The empty pallet may be then removed and the load-receivingplatform is ready for another loaded pallet which may be placed thereonin the manner previously described. If, for any reason, the controlsshould jam so that the pusher plate tends to continue movement beyondits extreme limit of travel, the excess pressure built up in theconduits 9| will open the valve 94 so as to permit by-passing of theliquid from the pump directly into the storage tank 86.

It will be seen in Figure 2A that upper surface of the apron 4 4 of thedumper is spaced slightly below the level of the upper surface of thepallet. Thus as the foremost stacks of boxes are pushed from the palleta point will be reached where before the front face of the stacksreaches the draper belt of the upstanding dumper, the stacks will beoverbalanced and will tilt slightly toward the dumper about a pivotpoint represented by the edge of the pallet. This tilting is of alimited nature and is stopped by the forward bottom edge of thelowermost boxes in the stacks engaging the surface of the apron. Theresult is that any slight overlap of one box in the foremost stack withan adjacent upper or lower box in the succeeding stack will be brokenand any interference which may be caused by the boxes to free pivotalmovement of the dumper is eliminated.

After the foremost stacks of boxes are fully positioned on the apron andrelative to the dumper, the motor driven pump 10 is actuated to deliverliquid to the upper end of the cylinder, in an amount depending on thedesired rapidity of action of the dumper, with the result that thelatter is moved downwardly from its upstanding position to its recliningposition. When the latter position is reached, the motor 5'1 is startedto drive the draper belt which will then move the boxes carried by thebelt upwardly and over the upper end thereof so as to dump the boxes inupside-down relation to and on the takeaway conveyor 41 which will thencarry them away as fast as they are dumped. The contents-of the V suchspacing hygpreventmg friotionbetween lad- 'rboll'esi ;since ithetakeaway conveyor is open, twill the :tank 753 or other 're- After :theJast box has been dumped, tine-damper neturned byroperat'ron (of the re-V wersingwalve 5, 'rto its mpstanding .:positionto :teceive another rowof stacks from the :pallet. alt-will meted that PI :provide, a switch1764 on the rload-receivingi'platform 1- I which has a pushiiseinupstanding positioniand which is connected, int-a 'manner wellknown to those skilled inithe art, with the motor 4 controllr'uogmovement of the seusher rpla-tezsothat when rthe dumper is in@tiygmsitionmther-thanthe sa-i-d 'u-pstanding pos'ithe motoril l mawnotbe started-so as 'to itodzoperative by -theiapr'on l' l when the dumper.stacKedn'eceptacIiBS. .a dam-per adiacentsaidiload- "receiving platformfor receiving a stack :of irerceptacles-zfrom :a rowthereoftonthe=pal1et, :means operative in successive increments ofmovement 7 of a quart :of such for engaging "and :h'orizontallyseparating :said rows :of :receptacles and for moving said sseparatedrows of -=reosptaolee gtoward said damper to transfercastacker-irrenceptacles in reachrow from the pallet 'to the iiumper, :andmeans:for ioperating said :dumper :to :move z-the treeeptacles rln'rsaidtransferred stacks toward an invertedlposition;

aweidei-itly pushstacks @of boxes from "the :pallet 1 before the dumperis ready to receive them;

in addition to the 1' controlled primary tilting iaction which ismparted {t0 the foremost istacks oftboxes' oftheggroup so as tomelieveany slight ocerlap-of -151'16'vbOX8S as aforesai-(l, Igirovideim'eansIonlaterallyseparating the stacks-before-the fore emost :thereof :are:reeeived by the 'dum-per :so ,as to gefiect greater ease iof handlingby the draper @helt and Jess 'crowdingeof the boxes on the :takeawayconveyor. ,In Figure-1B it will .be noted thatrthegpusher plate 13,inplan miew aspect, has a -y -shaped press-sectional "form with the apexsubstantially {aligned with the rinterstiee -l 0! between' the lateralstacks of boxes. When :the

' ipusheriplategfirstcengages the boxes, the i'action -is tmpushtheinner junction-of the stacks ahead ithe vouter corners so thatopposite forces are imposed 4m Ethestacks resulting in their beingforced aapartto the positions indicated by the :dotteddinlasof :Figure 113; .It is inzthis separated :ioondi-tion that ithe stacks are :finallydeposited onthedumper apron anda-are therefore moved tin laterallyspacedrelation :along the-drape! belt.

fjacent boxes both on the dr-a-per =be1t :a-ndon the takeaway -conveyoraadds nraterially to the @ease hf; =-:conveyanceand also considerablyspeeds sup operations.

Ini'Fig-ure ,5 1 have shown a (modified term or invention .designed forcomparatively high speed operation. ln this structure, the.l'oaderewneiving platform and'the} pusher mechanism {re- .r nain thesame as in the previously -.described Storm ot the-invention: but thedamper is rmOdifiE'd isomewhat. t lt lwillabe seenthatiinstead of 1a.single Midebeltcapable-of transporting thBEbOKGSjOf'i'tWO thereof. 1provide separate belts 2468 ::and A 09 oach sufliciently wide *totransport the rboses of a single stack thereof -and=onte'belt alt-9being V lsomewhat-longer l-thanirthe :other. The belts of ooursaihave acommon drive andithereforeimove cat the :same peripheral :speed.:Instea-d "of ithe $2.1m "combination, ,=,a ;-load-.=1:eceivingv;platlio rm 'on whichmay berplaceda pallet =.ca1:rying .rowsnfstackedireceptaclesa dumperradjacentisaid loadzreceiving platform :for.;:receiving :a :stack of areceptacleszfromnmowthereof nn-thespai1et,;means operative in SHOCESSiVBTiIIQIBIIIBIItS (if-movement of :axpartzo'f (such means for engaging :and :horiizontally 1 separatingrsaidurows :of "receptacles and tor :moving :said :separated rows :ofreceptacles towardsaid bumper to transfer v;-assta'ck m recep- "taoles'in teachlrowirom'the pallet to' the 'dumper,

singleltakeawayrconveyorias used in the previous 1 ;In combination, Jailoadreciving platform mum-my beiplaoediaipallet arrying-rows of meansoperative during movement :of said rows .:of stacks :for zangularlyvertically separating ad- 'jac'ent stacks ,prior to vinompletion oftransfer of stacks from the palletfto zth'e dumper, :meansfior.operatirrg said dumper to :move said receptacles in theatransferredstacks .towardtan-invertcdj position, :and means {or removing:successiwe rreceptacles from saidedum-per.

:3. In combination, -.a dead-receiving platform :on which may :be:placed fone of ;a succession of pallets carryingipluralitiesof rows ofstacked receptacles, means on said platform :for engaging adjacentsidesxof a 'palletrior locatinggsuccessive pallets iin predeterminedposition relative :to said -ap-latform, a dumper adjacent said:load-erece'ivzingzplatform-movable from tin-upstanding loadingposition-to -a:-re,clining dumpingpos'ition, said dumper "including anapron, which is substantially horizontal :when the .rdumper is:indoading position, and adraperzhelt which is in relatively horizontalposition when the dumperfis in dump- 'i-ng position, 1-21 :push'er:engageable withrsai'ditrows of stacks; and movable-.acrosssaid'palletfor'moving a stack of receptacles ;in each .zrowithereof towardand onto said :apron, said *apron being positioned below the upper:load-v-carrying surface of the pallet whereby, whenstacks ofreceptacles are ,moved from the :pallet :onto the .apron, the,-latter:-stack -will move'to a controlled: degree-into verticalinclinedzrelation with-said surfacexof the,

pallet, :said push'er.including:means for laterally separating adjacentsides of rowszof said stacked (receptacles, means for movingsa-id*dumper between loading and "dumping "positions whereby the vreceptacles,said stacks 'thereof :on the apron 'will be "moved toward invertedpositions and will rest on 'said :draper belt, 'andmeans tfor drivingsaid draper belt to .move the receptacles thereon toward a dischargeposition adjacent an end of said dumper.

4. -In combination, 'a load r'eceivin platform -on which may be placed:one of arsuccession of pallets carrying pluralities of rows oisst'ackedre- :ceptacles, means onzsaid platform 'for'engaging adjacent sides of apalletsfor :locating successive pallets inpredetermined.position'relative to said platform, "a :dumper adjacentsaid load-receiving platform movable from an upstanding loadingsposition "to ra ireclining dumping position, said dumper including "anapron, which is substantialclyihorizontal when the-'dumper isin'loading;-posittion; and adrapefbelt-Which is-in=relatively'hori Vzontal position when the dumper is in dumping position, a pusherengageable with said rows of stacks and movable across said palletformoving a stack of receptacles in each row thereof toward and ontosaidlapron, said pusher including means for laterally separating saidrows of stacks during movement of the pusher across said pallet, saidapron being positioned below the upper load-carrying surface of thepallet whereby, when stacks of receptacles are moved from the palletonto the apron, the latter stacks will move to a controlled degree intovertical inclined relation with said surface of the pallet, means formoving said dumper between loading and dumpin positions whereby thereceptacles in said stacks thereof on the apron will be moved towardinverted positions and will rest on said draper belt, and means fordriving said draper belt to move the receptacles thereon toward adischarrge position adjacent an end of said dumper.

5. In combination, a load-receiving platform on which may be placed oneof a succession of pallets carrying pluralities of rows of stackedreceptacles, means on said platform for engaging adjacent sides of apallet for locating successive pallets in predetermined positionrelative to said platform, a dumper adjacent said load-receivingplatform movable from an upstanding loading position to a recliningdumping position, said dumper including an apron, which is substantiallyhorizontal when the dumper is in loading position, and a draper beltwhich is in relatively horizontal position when the dumper is in dumpingposition, a pusher engageable with said rows of stacks and movableacross said pallet for moving a stack of receptacles in each row thereoftoward and onto said apron, said pusher including an element forengaging a row of stacks adjacent the junction thereof with an adjoiningrow and for moving a side of the row in advance of the opposite side ofthe row so as to laterally separate said rows of stacks, said apronbeing positioned below the upper load-carrying surface of the palletwhereby, when stacks of receptacles are moved from the pallet onto theapron, the latter stacks will move to a controlled degree intoverticalinclined relation with said surface of the pallet, means for moving saiddumper between loading and dumping positions whereby the receptacles insaid stacks thereof on the apron will be moved toward inverted positionsand will rest on said draper belt, and means for driving said draperbelt to move the receptacles thereon toward a discharge positionadjacent an end of said dumper.

, 6. In combination, a load-receiving platform on which may be placedone of a succession of pallets carrying pluralities of rows of stackedreceptacles, means on said platform for engaging adjacent sides of apallet for locating successive pallets in predetermined positionrelative to said platform, a dumper adjacent said load-receivingplatform movable from an upstanding loading position to a recliningdumping position, said dumper including an apron, which is substantiallyhorizontal when the dumper is in loading position, and a draper beltwhich is in relatively horizontal position when the dumper is in dumpingposition, a pusher engageable with said rows of stacks and movableacross said pallet for moving a stack of receptacles in each row thereoftoward and onto said apron, said pusher including a plate of V-shapedhorizontal cross-sectional forms with the apex of said V confronting andaligned to engage the junction between a pair of 10 rows of stacks sothat, during movement of the pusher across said pallet, the said rows ofstacks will be laterally spread apart, said apron being positioned belowthe upper load-carrying surface of the pallet whereby, when stacks ofreceptacles are moved from the pallet onto the apron, the latter stackswill move to acontrolled degree into vertical inclined relation withsaid surface of the pallet, means for moving said dumper between'loadingand dumping positions whereby the receptacle in said stacks thereof onthe apron will be moved toward inverted positions and will rest on saiddraper belt, and meansfor driving said draper belt to move thereceptacles thereon toward a discharge position adjacent an end of saiddumper.

7. In combination, a load-receiving platform on which may be placed oneof a succession of pallets carrying pluralities of rows of stackedreceptacles, means on said platform for engaging adjacent sides of apallet for locatin successive pallets in predetermined position relativeto said platform, a dumper adjacent said load-receiving platform movablefrom an upstanding loading position to a reclining dumping position,said dumper including an apron, which is substantially horizontal whenthe dumper is in loading position, and a draper belt which is inrelatively horizontal position when the dumper is in dumping position, apusher engageable with said rows of stacks and movable across saidpallet for moving a stack of receptacles in each row thereof toward andonto said apron, said pusher being substantially V-shaped with the apexthereof aligned between lateral stacks of receptacles, means for movingsaid pusher in measured increments for moving successive stacks ofreceptacles from said pallet onto said apron, said apron beingpositioned below the upper load-carrying surface of the pallet whereby,when stacks of receptacles are moved from the pallet onto the apron, thelatter stacks will move to a controlled degree into vertical inclinedrelation with said surface of the pallet, means for movin said dumperbetween loading and dumping positions whereby the receptacles in saidstacks thereof on the apron will be moved toward inverted positions andwill rest on said draper belt, and means for driving said draper belt tomove the receptacles thereon toward a discharge position adjacent an endof said dumper.

8. In combination, a load-receiving platform on which may be placed oneof a succession of pallets carrying pluralities of rows of stackedreceptacles, means on said platform for engaging adjacent sides of apallet for locating successive pallets in predetermined positionrelative to said platform, a dumper adjacent said load-receivingplatform movable from an upstanding loading position to a recliningdumping position, said dumper including an apron, which is substantiallyhorizontal when the dumper is in loading position and a plurality ofdraper belts which are in relatively horizontal position when the dumperi in dumping position, one of said draper belt being longer than anotherthereof and each draper belt being provided with a separate conveyortraversing an end thereof, a pusher engageable with said rows of stacksand movable across said pallet for moving a stack of receptacles in eachrow thereof toward and onto said apron, said pusher including means forengaging a row of stacks adjacent the junction thereof with an adjoiningrow of stacks and for moving a side of the row so as to laterallyseparate said rows of stacks ofrecep'tacles are moved: from the pallet 7m said dumper between-loading; and dumping ontocthe apron, the latterstackswi l-1,xrgovegto a: 1 con-trolled degree into vertical inclinedrelation 7 with saidsurfaceof the pallet man ion movpositionsiwherebythqrecepta-cles in said thereofz 0nthe apron wil-l be-moved toward in- 1ventepgsition s aindiwili res-1'; on said draper belts;

and meafns for drivingz'saiddraper belts: to move the 'i eqeptaclesthereom towardan; end of the 1 belts to discharge onto t esp' ctive cnv y rs-- ROLLI-EQB; NAWMAN.

nEFERENoE-sermw r I The following, :eftences. 'aire oii natural? in.-the; file oflth'is Patent; 7

UNITED" I McMichae1 Noy'. 511194

